It was a sun-burned Sunday for many of us who got out fishing over the Canada Day long weekend.
I am sure there are some who, like my youngest child, encountered the misadventure of sun stroke. The jump from January to instant summer July 1 may have caught many of us without sunscreen but it has been a boon to lake fisheries through-out the province.
With arrival of summer, it is time to switch our main fishing strategies, concentrating on early mornings and evenings.
Do not confuse early mornings with first light. Over the years, I have found that morning bite begins when the sun has warmed the water surface enough for the insects to start moving and ends when the sun gets too hot.
The morning bite, because of the variables in water temperature and the sun's intensity, can be hard to catch.
A more consistent and reliable bite comes in the evening. In evening, the water has been warmed all day and insect activity begins as soon as the sun is replaced by shadows.
The key is in understanding that insects do not perspire, which leaves them no effective way of cooling themselves. They require the right temperature to hatch but burn up when it gets too hot.
This balance of warm- enough-but-not too-hot facilitates a short window of activity most mornings and large window activity most evenings.
I know my critics may not agree with my observations and analysis, which is okay since none of us knows the whole answer and never will -- unless we learn to speak "insect."
THE REPORT
Fishing on our Lower Mainland lakes is good.
For wet (sinking) fly fishing try: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Coachman, American Coachman, Professor, Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, Sixpack, Dragonfly Nymph, Halfback, Doc Spratley, Baggy Shrimp, or Zulu. For dry (floating) fly action try Tom Thumb, Irresistible, Black Gnat, Griffith Gnat, Royal Coachman, or Renegade.
For Kokanee try Red Abbis, Bloodworm, Red Spratley, San Juan Worm, Red Quill or Double Trude.
Our Lower Mainland bass and panfish are fishing very well.
For bass tryWooly bugger, Big Black, Lizard, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Zonker, Tied Down Minnow, Bucktail, Dolly Whacker, Frogs, Poppers, Chernobyl Ant, Stimulator or Crayfish, in sizes 8 to 4.
Fishing is also good on most of our Interior lakes.
